Grayston Ives
Encyclopedia
Grayston "Bill" Ives is a British composer, singer and choral director. Until March 2009, he was Organist, Informator Choristarum and Fellow and Tutor in Music at Magdalen College, Oxford
. In this role he was responsible for the daily musical life of the college chapel. He also directed the choir in recordings on the Harmonia Mundi
label, including 'With a Merrie Noyse', made with the viol consort Fretwork
, and featuring the works of the English composer, Orlando Gibbons, for which the choir was nominated for a Grammy award
. The choristers of Magdalen College Choir recorded on Sir Paul McCartney
's Ecce cor Meum which won the Classical BRIT Award for Album of the Year. His most recent recordings with Magdalen Choir include a selection of his own liturgical works, 'Listen Sweet Dove', a disc of Durufle's 'Requiem', and a Christmas CD, 'Carols By Candlelight'.
Ives was a chorister at Ely Cathedral
and later studied music at Cambridge University
where he held a choral scholarship at Selwyn College
. After teaching music for a period, he became a member of the King's Singers
, from 1978 to 1985. His voice can be heard on a number of recordings from that period, including Paul McCartney's Frog Chorus. Ives composes as Grayston, but prefers to be known as Bill, a nickname he acquired at school as a result of a role-playing game with his brother.
As a composer, Ives' work consists mainly of sacred and secular music for choir, much of it written for the liturgy at Magdalen College, Oxford
. His Canterbury Te Deum
(1991) for SATB and Brass Quintet was commissioned for the enthronement of George Carey
as Archbishop of Canterbury
. He was commissioned to compose the centre-piece anthem, 'The Gift of Grace', for the commemoration service, held in Westminster Abbey in March 2007, for the Abolition of Slavery. It was attended by many high-ranking politicians and public figures, including Tony Blair
, British Prime Minister (1997-2007) and HM Queen Elizabeth II. In 2007 Ives was commissioned to write an anthem to celebrate the 10th birthday of the girls’ choir at Derby Cathedral. The Beatitudes received its first performance at a special Evensong
on 15 September 2007.
Bill Ives has recently been recognised for his contribution to church music with a Fellowship of the Royal School of Church Music
(May 2008) and the award of a Lambeth DMus by the Archbishop of Canterbury
. He is also an Emeritus Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford.
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
. In this role he was responsible for the daily musical life of the college chapel. He also directed the choir in recordings on the Harmonia Mundi
Harmonia Mundi
Harmonia Mundi is an independent music record label founded in 1958 by Bernard Coutaz in Arles . The Latin phrase means "world harmony"....
label, including 'With a Merrie Noyse', made with the viol consort Fretwork
Fretwork (music group)
Fretwork is a consort of viols based in England, United Kingdom. Formed in 1986, the group consisted of six players, while it is currently five viols...
, and featuring the works of the English composer, Orlando Gibbons, for which the choir was nominated for a Grammy award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
. The choristers of Magdalen College Choir recorded on Sir Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
's Ecce cor Meum which won the Classical BRIT Award for Album of the Year. His most recent recordings with Magdalen Choir include a selection of his own liturgical works, 'Listen Sweet Dove', a disc of Durufle's 'Requiem', and a Christmas CD, 'Carols By Candlelight'.
Ives was a chorister at Ely Cathedral
Ely Cathedral
Ely Cathedral is the principal church of the Diocese of Ely, in Cambridgeshire, England, and is the seat of the Bishop of Ely and a suffragan bishop, the Bishop of Huntingdon...
and later studied music at Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
where he held a choral scholarship at Selwyn College
Selwyn College, Cambridge
Selwyn College is a constituent college in the University of Cambridge in England, United Kingdom.The college was founded by the Selwyn Memorial Committee in memory of the Rt Reverend George Selwyn , who rowed on the Cambridge crew in the first Varsity Boat Race in 1829, and went on to become the...
. After teaching music for a period, he became a member of the King's Singers
King's Singers
The King's Singers is a British a cappella vocal ensemble who celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2008. Their name recalls King's College in Cambridge, England, where the group was formed by six choral scholars in 1968. In the United Kingdom, their popularity peaked in the 1970s and early 1980s...
, from 1978 to 1985. His voice can be heard on a number of recordings from that period, including Paul McCartney's Frog Chorus. Ives composes as Grayston, but prefers to be known as Bill, a nickname he acquired at school as a result of a role-playing game with his brother.
As a composer, Ives' work consists mainly of sacred and secular music for choir, much of it written for the liturgy at Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
. His Canterbury Te Deum
Te Deum
The Te Deum is an early Christian hymn of praise. The title is taken from its opening Latin words, Te Deum laudamus, rendered literally as "Thee, O God, we praise"....
(1991) for SATB and Brass Quintet was commissioned for the enthronement of George Carey
George Carey
George Leonard Carey, Baron Carey of Clifton PC, FKC is a former Archbishop of Canterbury, holding the office from 1991 to 2002. He was the first modern holder of the office not to have attended Oxford or Cambridge University...
as Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
. He was commissioned to compose the centre-piece anthem, 'The Gift of Grace', for the commemoration service, held in Westminster Abbey in March 2007, for the Abolition of Slavery. It was attended by many high-ranking politicians and public figures, including Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
, British Prime Minister (1997-2007) and HM Queen Elizabeth II. In 2007 Ives was commissioned to write an anthem to celebrate the 10th birthday of the girls’ choir at Derby Cathedral. The Beatitudes received its first performance at a special Evensong
Evening Prayer (Anglican)
Evening Prayer is a liturgy in use in the Anglican Communion and celebrated in the late afternoon or evening...
on 15 September 2007.
Bill Ives has recently been recognised for his contribution to church music with a Fellowship of the Royal School of Church Music
Royal School of Church Music
The largest church music organisation in Britain, the Royal School of Church Music was founded in 1927 by Sir Sydney Nicholson and has 11,000 members worldwide; it was originally named the School of English Church Music. It seeks to enable church music in the present and invest in its future,...
(May 2008) and the award of a Lambeth DMus by the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
. He is also an Emeritus Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford.
Choral works
- Canticles and Service Music
- Canterbury Te Deum
- Missa Brevis (1987, for the choir of New College, OxfordNew College, OxfordNew College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
) - The Edington Service
- The Exon Service
- The Magdalen Service (ATB)
- The Salisbury Service
- The Warwick Service
- Jubilate
- Preces and Responses (SATB and ATB)
- Anthems (SATB)
- A Song of Christ's Glory
- A Song of Divine Love
- Lord, is it I?
- Listen, Sweet Dove (for Whitsun)
- Nos autem gloriari
- O Sacrum Convivium
- Sicut lilium
- Sweet was the song
- The Canticle of Brother Sun
- There is a land of pure delight
- This is the record of John
- Ubi caritas
- The Beatitudes (girls' voices, for the 10th anniversary of Derby Cathedral Girls' Choir)
- Three Latin Motets for Men's Voices
- Ave verum
- Ego sum panis vivus
- In pace
- Arrangements
- I've got you under my skin
- Name that tune
- Rise up, shepherd
- Three Spirituals
- Amazing Grace
- Deep River
- Were you there?
- Three folksongs
- Buy broom besoms
- The lark in the clear air
- The tailor and the mouse